Light bulb

ABSTRACT

The glass envelope of a light bulb curves about the open end of the housing within which the bulb socket is mounted so as to form a weather shield for that open end of the housing.

UnitedStates Patent 1191 I Appleton Oct. 16, 1973 LIGHT BULB 3,445,584 5/1969 Boysetal... ..313/31sx 1161 Invemon Appleton, 1 Bridlewood 2323532 1311323 2323;111:3113: 3111111513536; Northbwok, 60062 3,466,490 9/1969 Sileo 313/318 [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 [21] APPL NM 288,130 Primary ExaminerRud0lph V. Rolinec Assistant Examinersaxfleld Chatmon, Jr. Attorney-Howard H. Darbo et a1.

[52] US. Cl 313/318, 313/220, 313/317,

313/242, 240/127 7 [51] Int. Cl; H0lj 5/48, HOlj 5/50 [57] ABSTRACT 58 1 1 Field of Search 313/220 26 2 The glass envelope of a light bulb curves about the open end of the housing within which the bulb socket [561 References Cited is mounted so as to fon'n a weather shield for that UNITED STATES PATENTS end the musmg' 3 3,300,637 1/1967 Marti-and 313/3l8 X 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ii I. j I 1 24 A 1 l 1 :1 I I "22' 1 I 1 1 1 I Q l l i v I! v a; ,1 Li 5 I Q 11' L I I i7 16 Q /i l x I I \ilJ "1 LIGHT BULB SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a simplified structure for shielding the open end of light bulb socket housings that are exposed to the weather.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements.

A typical mounting for a light bulb socket to be used outdoors comprises a housing within which is a socket 1 1. Provision is made for supporting and adjusting the alignment of the housing and socket, such as by means of a stand 12.The housing has an open end 13 through which the light bulb extends to engage the socket. The distal end 14 of the housing at the open end is of annular configuration.

The light bulb includes a mounting 16 having a threaded end 17 to be received in the socket 11 to support the light bulb and to form the electrical connections. It includes a glass envelope 18 which protects the electric filament, not shown. The glass envelope is suitably bonded to the enlarged part 19 of the mounting 16. As thus far described, the structure of the socket and of the light bulb is conventional.

My invention is to provide a reentrant portion, generally 21, which serves as a weather shield for the open end of the housing. To this end the reentrant portion of and the curved part 24 extends about the housing at the open end, closely adjacent thereto.

Thus the glass envelope effectively shields the open end of the housing and prevents rain from getting into the open end to deleteriously affect the electrical parts in the housing, even, sometimes to the extent of causing a short. In the past it has been common to use gaskets, variously made from asbestos, neoprene and the like, to endeavor to keep rainwater, etc., out of such housings. These gaskets are a nuisance and do not always do the job. They tend to become lost or damaged when light bulbs are replaced. The heat from the light bulb and the exposure to weather is likely to cause them to deteriorate. With the structure of my invention, the supplemental parts are no longer needed.

I claim:

1. In a light bulb adapted to be held by a socket having a housing with an annular open end into which the light bulb projects, said light bulb including a mounting to be received by the socket and a glass envelope attached to said mounting, the improvement comprising:

said envelope'defining an annular reentrant portion having a proximal part adjacent said mounting, a distal part radially outwardly from said proximal part and an exteriorly concave curved part connecting the proximal part and the distal part, said parts being of a size such that when mounting is in the socket the proximal part is in the open end of said housing, said distal part is outside of said housing rearwardly from said open end and said curved part is adjacent the end of said housing at said open end; whereby said distal part and saidcurved part form a weather shield about said open end. 

1. In a light bulb adapted to be held by a socket having a housing with an annular open end into which the light bulb projects, said light bulb including a mounting to be received by the socket and a glass envelope attached to said mounting, the iMprovement comprising: said envelope defining an annular reentrant portion having a proximal part adjacent said mounting, a distal part radially outwardly from said proximal part and an exteriorly concave curved part connecting the proximal part and the distal part, said parts being of a size such that when mounting is in the socket the proximal part is in the open end of said housing, said distal part is outside of said housing rearwardly from said open end and said curved part is adjacent the end of said housing at said open end; whereby said distal part and said curved part form a weather shield about said open end. 